MEMORISE
Every one of the builders had his sword girded at his side as he built. And the one who sounded the trumpet was beside me (Nehemiah 4:18).
READ:
Nehemiah 4:1-17
[1]. But it so happened, when Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, that he was furious and very indignant, and mocked the Jews.
[2]. And he spoke before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said, “What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they fortify themselves? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they complete it in a day? Will they revive the stones from the heaps of rubbish—stones that are burned?”
[3]. Now Tobiah the Ammonite was beside him, and he said, “Whatever they build, if even a fox goes up on it, he will break down their stone wall.”
[4]. Hear, O our God, for we are despised; turn their reproach on their own heads, and give them as plunder to a land of captivity!
[5]. Do not cover their iniquity, and do not let their sin be blotted out from before You; for they have provoked You to anger before the builders.
[6]. So we built the wall, and the entire wall was joined together up to half its height, for the people had a mind to work.
[7]. Now it happened, when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites heard that the walls of Jerusalem were being restored and the gaps were beginning to be closed, that they became very angry,
[8]. and all of them conspired together to come and attack Jerusalem and create confusion.
[9]. Nevertheless we made our prayer to our God, and because of them we set a watch against them day and night.
[10]. Then Judah said, “The strength of the laborers is failing, and there is so much rubbish that we are not able to build the wall.”
[11]. And our adversaries said, “They will neither know nor see anything, till we come into their midst and kill them and cause the work to cease.”
[12]. So it was, when the Jews who dwelt near them came, that they told us ten times, “From whatever place you turn, they will be upon us.”
[13]. Therefore I positioned men behind the lower parts of the wall, at the openings; and I set the people according to their families, with their swords, their spears, and their bows.
[14]. And I looked, and arose and said to the nobles, to the leaders, and to the rest of the people, “Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, great and awesome, and fight for your brethren, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your houses.”
[15]. And it happened, when our enemies heard that it was known to us, and that God had brought their plot to nothing, that all of us returned to the wall, everyone to his work.
[16]. So it was, from that time on, that half of my servants worked at construction, while the other half held the spears, the shields, the bows, and wore armor; and the leaders were behind all the house of Judah.
[17]. Those who built on the wall, and those who carried burdens, loaded themselves so that with one hand they worked at construction, and with the other held a weapon.
EXPOSITION
The spate of violent physical attacks on the Church is quite alarming as today marks International Day of Non-Violence. Where some Christians are not gruesomely murdered, some are kidnapped, with some, never to be seen again, dead or alive! However, the Lord has unmovably built His Church on the solid Rock. The reality is that we (His people) need to be building and watching. How can we build and watch simultaneously?
Nehemiah was inspired and poised to rebuild Jerusalem's ruined walls (Neh. 2:5). No sooner had he mobilised the people for the work than opposition arose. Why would Sanballat and his cohorts move to stop God's work? What harm or injury would rebuilding Jerusalem's broken wall do to them? Why did they resort to idle talks of discouragement against God's work? Why the plan of physical attack when their blackmail failed? Whether they knew it or not, Satan, the enemy of righteousness, knew Israel was God's chosen people, and would stop at nothing to stop God's purpose on them (cf. 1 Pet. 5:8).
Similarly, are we surprised to witness the verbal molestation, attacks and warfare against the body of Christ? Why would people be interested in killing innocent, harmless worshippers right in the church? The Church is God's project, and Satan is trying all he can to abort it. The joy is, he has always failed (Matt. 16:18; Jn. 14:30; 16:33).
However, you must ensure you are truly a member of the church and not just in the number. We should work with the Holy Spirit never to allow the devil succeed. As we worship, we should watch! As we pray, we should be vigilant in the Spirit. We should be pro-active in terms of security, to forestall devilish attacks. Yes, we cannot carry arms and ammunitions, yet we can do somethings to defend and salvage ourselves from destiny wasters.
SUGGESTED HYMN FOR TODAY:
CAC GHB 728
1. Be watchful Thou my soul
The enemies arise
The host of sin are well prepared
To see you are fallen.
2. Fight on and keep praying
And do not be dismayed,
Request from heaven everyday
Your strength to be renewed.
3. Never think you've conquered
And do not take your ease,
Your work will not come to an end
Till you have won the crown.
4. Fight on, fight on, my soul
Until death will stop you
And God shall take you to your home
When soul and body part.
Amen.
PRAYER POINTS
1. Lord, save Your Church from all satanic attacks.
2. Lord, give us wisdom and courage to do Your work and not be unnecessarily careless, even in the face of intimidation.
3. God of the universe, arise and defend us as we go about doing Your work.
EXTRA READING FOR TODAY:
Micah 4-7;
Nahum 1-2
AUTHOR
CAC Worldwide
Remain blessed
 DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE DATE: Monday, October 2, 2023 (International Day of Non-Violence) TOPIC: BUILDING AND WATCHING){kind=link}